Longtime Los Gatos resident and restaurateur Tom Jillo was mourned this past Tuesday by family and friends who celebrated his life at an Eastern Orthodox service that was held at St. Mary”s Catholic Church. The fact that the funeral service was held in a Catholic church for a non-Catholic was a testament to the different lives he touched in his 52 years.

Jillo passed away Nov. 12 after a valiant struggle against cancer.

Jillo was best known in town as the co-owner of the Gardino”s and Chicago Steak and Fish restaurants.

“I”ll tell you something everyone would agree is true,” friend Wayne Hossenlopp said. “He was a good man and a great cook. He was an artist with food.”

St. Mary”s was packed with mourners, including Los Gatos Town Council members Barbara Spector, Joe Pirzynski and Steve Leonardis and former councilman Randy Attaway.

Members of the Hells Angels were also among the mourners.

“He brought everybody together,” said Mike Pelzel, who met Jillo more than 20 years ago. “He had a certain strength and worldly aspect. He was a tough guy who was also very kind.”

In Los Gatos, Jillo became known as a “go to” guy, always willing to help charitable organizations like A Place for Teens, Catholic Charities, the Jewish Community Center and the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Foundation.

“He cooked at St. Mary”s all the time,” Machado added. “Anything Sister Nicki needed, he was there.”

Sister Nicki Thomas, principal of St. Mary”s School, also attended the funeral service.

Longtime Los Gatos resident Michael Silva said Jillo”s generosity goes back decades. “He started giving back to Los Gatos schools and sports teams when his kids were in grade school,” Silva said. “He was a generous man who loved to give.”

The Jillo family moved to Los Gatos from Chicago in 1980.

Growing up in the Windy City, Jillo gained a reputation as a brawler who was popular with the girls.

“Tom was a first-degree black belt in karate and had no fear,” brother John Jillo said in his eulogy. “He was a mini Bruce Lee in the mid-1970s. He was so popular with the girls; they all loved to watch him fight.”

Of his brother”s softer side, Jillo said, “Tom would always put family and friends ahead of himself.”

Jillo is survived by his mother Virginia Jillo and sons Zaia, Tower and Zane, his sister Soseek Machado and his brothers John Jillo and Pete Jillo.